Courtyard house

The client's wish was to extend on the ground floor and loft while maintaining the existing house's design and increasing sunlight and outdoor connectivity. The house boasts a unique double frontage with a double front gabled roof, setting it apart from neighbouring properties. However, previous modifications at the rear resulted in a disjointed appearance. Our proposal aims to celebrate the property's individual character by emphasizing its symmetry around the central axis and enhancing its architectural interest with thoughtful additions. The ground floor extension accommodates the new kitchen, dining, and play area, improving the connection with the garden by lowering the extension's ground level. A new courtyard, strategically aligned with the central corridor, establishes a visual axis from the entrance to the garden, serving as a space distributor. The central axis is emphasized by the continuous cut on the ground floor extension roof and the new vertical zinc-clad element at the rear, topped with a window dormer. Exposed grid of free-spanning glulam beams, pencil-shaped columns, and slender full-height glazing topped with metal brise soleil contribute to the distinctive character of the house. The loft conversion includes a new hip-to-gable roof with the addition of three box-type zinc-clad dormers, providing a well-balanced addition to the house. Our design integrates various sustainable measures to enhance its architectural appeal. These include a planned green roof, which has not been implemented yet, along with rain chains that channel water into the rain garden, showcasing varied planting. These measures, together with maximising natural light through high thermal performance glazing and improving insulation of the existing fabric, will ensure the house meets high standards for many years to come.